I didn't quit drinking, I just took the spring off. Maybe you can too.

Like many can relate to, alcohol has been a major part of my adult life whether or not I think that's true or not. Going out with some friends? A few beers will get us started. Watching the game? Crack em. Just have an unexpected day off work? A mimosa with breakfast sounds great, why not!

Yet, with all that being true, alcohol doesn't have an unyielding grip on me. During times alone, I don't often feel bored enough to seek a buzz. When I'm focused on a workout or running goal, shelfing the desire to drink comes easy. When I'm just not feeling it, friends pressuring me to "just have one" typically elicits a chuckle, maybe a middle finger if they're being extra pushy, but nothing more.

That's all to say, I surely haven't hit rock bottom. I imagine many of you reading this haven't either. All the same, I'm not anti-alcohol one little bit. I enjoy having a drink. Sometime multiple. And most of all, I am not trying to "reinvent" myself. I have a great life, great career, great family. I know what I want and how to get it. The first time I did sober spring several years ago, it was about curiosity, not crisis. Instead of quitting altogether, I wanted to see how I felt just taking the spring off.

"Forever" creates pressure, seasons create space

Believe or not, a lot of people I have talked to about doing sober spring with me are not afraid of the length of time, but rather, they are afraid of all of the things they think they want to do with alcohol during those months off. Resistance to the challenge is strongest because of birthdays, going away parties, sports championships, concerts, Taco Tuesdays, you name it. If you fall into this category, remember, you are running a personal experiment, not making a vow. And this experiment has an end date: June 21! It's a season of sobriety. That's it! It's not forever. It's just for a season.

And guess what? When I did my first sober spring, I felt great everyday, I learned to rewrite habits I had written around drinking, I had time and money to do other things that were actually meaningful to me, and for the first time in my adult life, the words I used to describe my drinking habits to others slowly morphed from "I can't drink right now", to "I don't drink". A powerful change of language. But you know what didn't change? I didn't become a monk. Social awkwardness still existed. I didn't magically become a perfect husband or father. But I certainly was more present, more content with myself.

If "being sober" is scary to you, that's ok! That label is scary to a lot of people who've never dipped their toe in the world of sobriety. But you don't need to be a "sober person" to enjoy the benefits of sober spring. You can simply be a "person doing a sober season". If you stumble, that's ok. Just pick it back up the next day (if you want to, seriously, no pressure!).

My invite to you

Just do sober spring with me this year as an experiment with yourself. We're going to take it one day at a time and you can get all the support, tips, and encouragement right here in r/soberspring. We're going to prioritize progress over perfection. We're going to remind each other that slip ups don't cancel sober spring.

If you've ever thought about taking a break from drinking, sober spring is for you. If you've ever been curious about how it would feel to not have to rely on alcohol, then sober spring is for you.

What would one season away from alcohol do for you? What's holding you back today?